Did Monsanto Write Malawi’s Seed Policy?

Posted on September 4, 2017 by GarryRogers

GR: Monsanto did. The company’s unscrupulous efforts to increase profits are harmful to humans and nature. This story may raise your blood pressure a bit. Such stories of corporate and government greed and corruption have driven some environmentalists to begin predicting human extinction.

“In late July, a short article was published in a Malawian newspaper: Press Release on Organization of Seed Fairs. Issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Water Development, in conjunction with the Seed Traders Association of Malawi, the short statement advised the public that “only quality certified seed suppliers registered with government to produce and/or market seed should be allowed to display seed at such events.” The release was signed by Bright Kumwembe for the Agriculture Ministry.

“I received this news in the U.S. as I prepared a research trip to Malawi, and I was shocked. Malawi is in the final stages of a multi-year effort to reform its seed policy and laws, and the largest point of contention at this point is the failure of the draft policy to recognize and protect so-called “farmers’ rights” to save, exchange and sell the seeds they grow on their farms.

“Remarkably, the policy seeks to define the word “seed” as applying only to certified seed from commercial companies. Farm-saved seed is referred to in the policy as just “grain,” unworthy even of the word seed.

“Some 80 percent of the crops grown in Malawi come from farm-saved seeds, and many of those seeds are displayed, exchanged and sold at local seed fairs. These are often community events organized by local non-governmental organizations or district agriculture offices to promote seed improvement. Farmers show their most successful varieties, sometimes alongside seed from commercial companies that have bred, patented and produced “improved” varieties that are then certified by the government for quality.

“What this press release implied, in no uncertain terms, was that henceforth farmers would not be allowed to display their seeds. The formal and informal seed sectors have coexisted for decades. Why was the Malawian government, embroiled in a controversy over a still-unfinished seed policy, threatening to ban farm-saved seed from the market?” –Food Tank (Continue: Did Monsanto Write Malawi’s Seed Policy?)

Requirements for the USDA Organic Seal of Approval

Posted on June 17, 2016 by GarryRogers

GR.–Take action for butterflies: According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), organic farms in the U. S. sales reached $5.5 billion in 2014, up 72 percent since 2008. Save the pollinators and the animals that depend on them; go organic! It’s the simplest way to boycott Monsanto and all the users of glyphosate and other pesticides. Here’s what “organic” means:

From OnlyOrganic.org.–“The USDA certified organic seal is the only guarantee that your food has been grown without toxic pesticides, most synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, artificial hormones or genetically engineered seeds. It also indicates that food that has been produced in compliance with federal standards.

“To meet these standards, farmers must:

rotate crops to maintain soil health
reduce soil erosion to improve water quality
use buffers to prevent contamination from non-organic fields
prohibit the use of toxic pesticides, most synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones, and genetically engineered seeds
provide animals with year-round access to fresh air, clean water, direct sunlight, and room to move

“Before a farmer can market their crops as organics, they must meet USDA organic standards.Becoming certified organic is a multi-step process. The US Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) oversees organic agriculture and certification in our country, but accredited certifying agents are the ones who actually grant or deny the organic certification of goods. The certifying agents must first go through a rigorous review process to get accredited by NOP. Then, the accredited certifying agents put each company through an inspection and review process to become certified organic.” Continue reading: The Organic Seal of Approval | Only Organic

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Monsanto Demands World Health Organization Retract Report That Says Roundup Is Linked to Cancer » EcoWatch

Posted on March 27, 2015 by GarryRogers

Monsanto is demanding the World Health Organization (WHO) retract the report that says glyphosate, found in the herbicide Roundup, is linked to cancer

Source: ecowatch.com

GR: From the article: “One proponent of the “glyphosate is absolutely safe” narrative is former environmentalist/current environmental contrarian/sometime Monsanto consultant Dr. Patrick Moore, who was interviewed by filmmaker Paul Moreira for a French TV documentary. He not only insisted “[Roundup] is not dangerous to humans, he also said “You can drink a whole quart of it and it won’t hurt you.” But when Moreira said, “You want to drink some? We have some here,” Moore responded “I’d be happy to … not really, but I know it wouldn’t hurt me,” and walked off the set when Moreira repeated his offer, calling the him an “idiot.”

See on Scoop.it – GarryRogers NatCon News

Outrage Over US Secret Approval of Genetically Engineered Trees –

Posted on February 7, 2015 by GarryRogers

“The International Campaign to STOP GE Trees, Dogwood Alliance & Biofuelwatch Groups Condemn US for Bowing to Industry, Ignoring Widespread Public Opposition New York (29 Jan. 2015) – Groups from around the world [1] today joined together to denounce the US government for allowing the first genetically engineered tree, a loblolly pine, to be legalized with no government or public oversight, with no assessment of their risks to the public or the environment, and without regard to overwhelming public opposition to GE trees.

Loblolly Pine Distribution

“A secret letter from the USDA to GE tree company ArborGen [2], dated last August, was recently exposed by scientist Doug Gurian-Sherman of the Center for Food Safety [3]. In this letter, the USDA made the unprecedented decision to allow ArborGen to pursue unregulated commercial cultivation of a loblolly pine genetically engineered for altered wood composition. These trees could be planted anywhere in the US, without public knowledge or access to information about them” (Source: stopgetrees.org).

GR: As pointed out in the article, pollen from these trees will spread, and we do not understand forest ecology well enough to predict the consequences.

The ArborGen website leads with this statement: “What makes a valuable tree? Superior growth, maximum value.” Nothing of forest ecology is mentioned. ArborGen continues “… is a leading global provider of conventional and next generation plantation tree seedling products for the forestry industry. With a long history of research and development, our advanced genetic technologies develop trees that offer forest landowners outstanding silvicultural performance and financial return. With these advanced genetics, ArborGen helps landowners ensure the maximum productivity of their forests – providing outstanding growth and yield to address the world’s growing need for wood, fiber and fuel.”

What can we do to get the USDA and other land management and conservation agencies to stop pandering to industry and ask themselves what they can do to stop the loss of our wildlife?